book

THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON

Name: THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON
Author: Ryan Douglass

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Ryan Douglass

Is THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Jake, a 16-year-old medium, is being haunted by the ghost of a high school shooter. (Ages 12 to 17)

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? Strong supernatural horror, bullying, racism and homophobia, graphic violence, a school-shooting backstory, death, and trauma make this better suited to mature teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 15+

Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 5/5 · Death of a character 4/5 · LGBTQIA characters 4/5

Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Diverse representation 4/5

Recommendation3.5/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Strong supernatural horror, bullying, racism and homophobia, graphic violence, a school-shooting backstory, death, and trauma make this better suited to mature teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 15+Main watch-out: Frightening scenes 5/5

Recommendation 3.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial

Source checkedPublication method

17Scored categories

17Evidence notes

0Explicit 0/5 checks

Oct 22, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings work Report a rating or series issue

Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes

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At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

Frightening scenes5/5
Death of a character4/5
LGBTQIA characters4/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience4/5
Diverse representation4/5
Creativity & curiosity3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5

Why this rating?

Death and murdered or deceased characters are central to the plot, including disturbing circumstances and grief-related themes.

Graphic injury3/5

Why this rating?

Includes descriptions of injuries and spectral hauntings that involve blood and gore.

Strong language3/5

Why this rating?

Contains moderate profanity reflecting the realistic dialogue of high schoolers.

LGBTQIA characters4/5

Why this rating?

The protagonist is gay, and homophobia and queer identity are important parts of his character and conflicts.

Religious themes1/5

Why this rating?

Minimal or incidental references to faith or spiritual beliefs.

Romance2/5

Why this rating?

Features age-appropriate crushes and romantic feelings for the teen protagonist.

Frightening scenes5/5

Why this rating?

Central horror premise involving ghosts, possession, stalking, frightening imagery, threats, and sustained psychological tension.

Sexual content & nudity1/5

Why this rating?

Contains brief, mild references to teen sexual experiences or curiosity.

Alcohol or drugs2/5

Why this rating?

Occasional references to underage or peer substance use in social contexts.

Violence4/5

Why this rating?

Repeated supernatural attacks, bullying, assault, and violence connected to a school-shooting backstory; threats are intense and consequential.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5

Why this rating?

The protagonist faces supernatural danger, prejudice, grief, and trauma, with courage tied to protecting others and asserting his identity.

Creativity & curiosity3/5

Why this rating?

Uses creative, horror-based world-building to explore character growth.

Diverse representation4/5

Why this rating?

Strong focus on Black youth identity and the intersection of racial and sexual identity.

Educational value1/5

Why this rating?

Provides social commentary on contemporary youth issues.

Kindness & empathy2/5

Why this rating?

Kindness exists between peers, though the environment is largely harsh.

Positive messages3/5

Why this rating?

Addresses confronting prejudice, resisting abuse, seeking help, accepting identity, and refusing to let trauma define one’s choices.

Good role models3/5

Why this rating?

Jake displays resilience and courage in the face of significant challenges.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
Which choice in THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON, and what caused that change?

Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.